St. Albans City 4 Leyton 6

Saturday 13th September

Clarence Park

Defensive lapses and failure to take advantage of two of the three penalty-kicks awarded them were the main causes of the Citizens' defeat on Saturday, when they entertained Leyton in a Herts and Middlesex League game, which was contested at a great pace, with all the keenness of pre-war competitive football. The encounter was packed with thrills; hard knocks were freely given and taken, but there were many flashes of brilliant footwork and the exchanges held spectators' interest to the last kick.

St. Albans. in the absence of R. W. Wells, indisposed, were weak at centre-half, where they gave a trial to B. Saunderson, a player who has assisted Tooting and Mitcham but who had obviously been out of the game too long to hold PHILLIPS, Leyton's lively centre-forward. He opened the scoring after eight minutes' play, when a pass from the left found him unmarked with only Powell to beat. SAUNDERS, following up well to gather the ball when Watson stopped Earle, equalised with a swift, low cross-shot, delivered so quickly that Spicer made no effort to save.

QUICK SCORING.

A shot from Timberlake hit the font of the post and Saunders missed an easy chance from close range, before Leyton regained the lead from a penalty-kick awarded when Martindale handled a shot which had Powell well beaten. That was converted by POTTINGER. Just before the interval, St. Albans were awarded a penalty-kick for obstruction. That was taken by Richardson, who shot low, but Spicer made a good save close to the post.

In the second half, Cook and Saunderson changed places in St. Albans' half-back line. After six minutes, Saunderson made the opening for RICHARDSON to bring the scores level with a hard, low drive into the far corner of the net. After Earle. who again played a grand constructive game at inside-right for St. Albans, had hit the crossbar with a terrific drive, a failure by Saunderson to clear let Leyton through, and POTTINGER, catching Powell out of position, lobbed the ball over his head into the net. Within a minute, PHILLIPS, who was given too much scope by Cook, got possession with a clear run for goal and increased his side's lead.

A neat movement by Dade enabled Saunders to deliver a fast cross-shot, which Spicer could only push out, and when PITTMAN tried to clear he was so badly harassed by Allen that he turned the ball into his own goal. Then St. Albans defenders had a very bad patch and PHILLIPS scored twice within a minute. A delightful bout of passing found him unmarked. His shot hit the inside of the far post and rebounded into the net. Immediately afterwards he broke through the middle. Powell, who advanced to meet him, stopped the centre-forward's shot but could not hold the ball. As it rolled towards the net, Martindale had the chance to clear, but dallied, and PHILLIPS, following up, robbed him and netted.

MANY NARROW ESCAPES.

St. Albans redoubled their efforts. When Pittman handled a pass from Richardson to Timberlake, COOK converted the resultant penalty-kick with a smashing drive. The Leyton goal had a series of narrow escapes following a number of corner-kicks accurately placed by Timberlake and Saunders. Watson cleared one shot by Martindale from beneath the crossbar with his custodian beaten and St. Albans vainly appealed for a goal when Spicer, harassed by Allen, appeared to step back into goal while holding the ball. With two minutes to go, Richardson was pushed in the back when making for goal. Cook took the penalty-kick and delivered a fast, low shot which Spicer stopped and Watson cleared. 

St. Albans were best served in defence by Goldsack, who played very steadily under difficulties which were increased because Martindale, who was unwell, faltered. Cook worked enthusiastically, but marred many of his efforts in the second half because he did not keep in position to deal with the Leyton centre-forward. Franklin showed skill in initiating attacks. St. Albans' forwards played well, with Earle, Richardson and Saunders in capital form, but Timberlake, who usually figured at centre-forward in junior football, was unable to settle down on the left wing. Leyton were a well-balanced side and were the quicker on the ball.

St. Albans City:H. Powell; G. Martindale, L. Goldsack; E. Cook. B. Saunderson, R. Franklin; W. Saunders, S. Earle, W. Allen, J. Richardson, T. Timberlake.

Leyton:G. Spicer; R. Pittman. J. Watson; S. Lowe. C. Sergeant, H. Nash: F. Boatwright, C. Pottinger, C. Phillips, J. Quartin, C. Hodge.

Referee:Mr. E. Crawford (Hendon)

2 SAC 4 6 Leyton 13 Sep 1941